Beiteddine Palace Palace

Address: Beiteddine, Chouf District, Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon

Beiteddine Palace is a large 19th-century palace complex in the village of Beiteddine in Lebanon’s Chouf district, built by Emir Bashir Shihab II during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The complex combines reception halls, decorated rooms, courtyards and formal gardens arranged on a hillside.

Key attractions for visitors include the palace’s grand paved courtyard, richly worked interior wood and stone decoration, and terraced gardens with fountains. The palace’s open courtyards and reception rooms are focal points for visitors and for the summer cultural program.

The palace was constructed under the authority of Emir Bashir Shihab II around 1788-1818 and later underwent restorations in the 20th century. It is now used as a site for public visits and cultural events, including the annual Beiteddine Festival.

The complex sits in the Chouf Mountains of Mount Lebanon Governorate, in the village of Beiteddine, on a hillside above the surrounding valley.

• Construction dates: Construction began in the late 18th century under Emir Bashir Shihab II and was carried out roughly between 1788 and 1818.
• Festival venue: The palace is the venue for the annual Beiteddine Festival, a summer cultural festival of music and performance held in the palace courtyards.

What to See#

• Central courtyard: A large central paved courtyard with ornamental fountains and arcades forms the formal heart of the palace and links the main reception rooms.
• Gardens and terraces: Terraced gardens and planted courts descend the hillside and include paved walkways, fountains and planted beds that adjoin the palace terraces.

Beiteddine Palace is in the Chouf mountains at the town of Beiteddine, reachable by road from Beirut. By car it typically takes around 45-90 minutes from Beirut depending on traffic and the route through the Chouf (straight‑line distance is shorter, but mountain roads increase travel time). Shared taxis and minibuses run from Beirut toward Chouf towns (for example Deir al‑Qamar); from those towns a short taxi ride will take you up to the palace where visitor parking is available.

• Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat and to see the palace courtyards and mosaics in better light; midday can be very hot in summer.
• If your trip coincides with the Beiteddine Festival (summer months), expect larger crowds and altered opening hours - check the festival schedule when planning to avoid closures or packed conditions.
• Combine your visit with a drive through the Chouf area to see nearby mountain scenery and traditional villages, which many day-trippers skip.